Born Gay? Valid argument?

I have family members and friends that range from faithful Catholics to angry atheists and everything in between.  (To be clear, this means that I have some friends that would fit in with the Westboro Baptist crowd as well as atheist and agnostic friends that are calm, rational and tolerant.)  What this means in practicality, is that some days my Facebook stream is littered with some hateful and ignorant stuff.  Today started out with a few of the more militant atheist and agnostic friends passing around a photo of a man holding a sign that reads, "I was born gay.  You were taught religion."

Those posting this think it is a great argument for homosexuality and against religion.  But, is it ?  Let's examine that...

I can't claim to remember all the characteristics I was born with, but as the father of three children, uncle to eleven more, and a mature parent with many friends that are parents to countless more children I've seen plenty of babies born and children growing up to see some patterns.  Beyond that, between earning my degree in education and trying to be the best parent I can, I've read and studied lots of material on child development.  So, while all that may be unnecessary to my point for some it may add some credibility.   But,  think just about any mature adult will recognize what I am about to point out regarding the characteristics we are born with versus those things we are taught.

Every baby I've ever seen was born with the need to have his or her diaper changed on a regular basis.  I've yet to meet the child that is potty trained from day one.  Nor have I met a child that without any teaching (by example or through instruction) learned to go to the bathroom, use the toilet, flush, and wash his hands.  I think it is safe to assume, you and I were born soiling ourselves and were taught to use the toilet, wipe, flush and wash our hands.  Were either of us to revert to our nature would that mean we could demand people accept us and tolerate the smell and unsanitary nature of us sitting in our filth.

Likewise, we are all born totally dependent on others feeding us and clothing us.  Of course, today as our government slowly moves closer and closer to socialism it seems a lot of people do lean towards the idea that being born dependent on others means that one should feel no obligation to be self-sufficient and independent.  But, I have yet to hear anyone use that argument to justify their socialist beliefs, may they should...  Maybe we should recognize that they were born that way and we should accept that our learned independence and productivity are not natural and are thus lesser?

You can't help but look at a baby and recognize that it is 100% dependent on those around it.  Not only that, but it is oblivious to the needs or desires of anyone other than himself.  Babies are incapable of anything but pure selfishness, what they want or need is all they are capable of understanding.  And as they grow up, we have to teach our children to respect others, to recognize that others have needs and desires and that they have to share, they have to play fair, they have to respect others, etc.  Is being born selfish a fact we just need to accept and stop teaching people to overcome their nature?

Let's put it another way.  Let's imagine the former CEO of Bear Stearn walking the street with a sign that read, "I was born selfish.  You were taught to share."

Or, a member of the Occupy Wall Street movement carrying a sign that reads, "I was born dependent.  You were taught to be self-sufficient."

Would you accept that nature is superior to what is taught?

Ya, that's what I thought...

If you're going to make an argument, it needs to be one based on valid principles, concepts, ideas, and values that don't undermine everything else you believe in.